I became a mother on the day they placed Little Dude in my arms.

You are right, technically, he isn’t my son. He doesn’t have my last name, he may not ever have a birth certificate that says I’m his momma, he may not live with me til he is 18 and he has another mother who is still in his life. But that boy, my precious Little Dude, that boy made me a momma.

Foster care is admittedly scary. I know. I love this child. Not like a child I see every once in a while. Not like a child I babysit everyday. Not like one of my students at school. No. I love Little Dude as my son. I can say this whole heartily and know it is accurate. You see, I was 6 months pregnant with our other son, Jennings when Little Dude came into our family. I have another son and I know a momma’s love. And I love Little Dude the same. In our family, we have two boys- two sons- until we don’t.

This is the role of a foster mom… You love like your own. Jayson and I decided early on that we’d love Little Dude with wild abandonment and we wouldn’t live afraid of the loss we might experience. Little Dude has already lost so much – he deserves a family. We will stand in the gap and love recklessly. And one day he may legally be mine. But, maybe not. And if not, during the time he was here, he knew a mother’s love. And for the rest of my life, it will always be Little Dude who made me a momma and he’ll always be my boy – whether here or there.